Assistive Technlogy Services In Schools

Assistive Technology Services Heartland Area Education Agency 11

Assistive Technology���Enables Students To ¤  Actively participate in their

educational curriculum

¤  Access and use information for academic and vocational achievement

¤  Communicate effectively in written and oral form

¤  Increase productivity in school and work

Assistive Technology���Federal Definition ¤  Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)

¤  Devices ¤  Any item, equipment, or system used to

increase, maintain, or improve functional capabilities of individuals with disabilities

¤  Services ¤  Assists with the selection, acquisition or use

of an assistive technology device

Assistive Technology���Functional Definition ¤  Technology-based tools and strategies

that support educational achievement for students with special needs

¤  Heartland’s AT Services focus on ¤  Accessible Instructional Materials (AIM)

¤  Specialized software and apps for struggling readers and writers

¤  Alternative/augmentative communication

¤  Computer and mobile device access

Assistive Technology ���Services for Students ¤  Who have an identified disability

¤  Individual Family Service Plan (IFSP) ¤  Individualized Education Program (IEP) ¤  504 Accommodation Plan

¤  Who have difficulty acquiring or participating in life skills ¤  Reading ¤  Writing ¤  Speaking ¤  Accessing technology

¤  Consider assistive technology ¤  When there is barrier that impacts progress

in the curriculum or on individual goals

¤  How to explore AT ¤  Focus on student concerns

¤  Discuss issues with the educational team ¤  What strategies are being used ¤  What progress has been made

¤  Match technology to student needs

Assistive Technology ���For My Child

Assistive Technology���In Schools ¤  Embedded within the curriculum at

¤  District, building, program and individual levels

¤  Educational teams provide assistive technology through ¤  Curriculum materials

¤  Teaching strategies

¤  Individual accommodations

Assistive Technology���Services ¤  Educational teams access AT Services when

a student’s needs exceed local resources

¤  AT Specialists ¤  Problem solve with school teams ¤  Match technology-based solutions

to individual student needs ¤  Work with staff to implement technology-based

strategies and devices ¤  Build local capacity for selecting & implementing

technology for students with special needs

Assistive Technology���Services Referral ¤  Educational teams provide the following

information to an AT specialist

¤  Questions and concerns related to selecting and implementing AT into the curriculum or goals to increase student achievement

¤  Describe strategies that have been implemented to address these concerns and the outcomes

¤  State expectations regarding the impact of AT on the student’s educational achievement

Assistive Technology���Sample Solutions ¤  Devices

¤  Specially designed and off-the-shelf adaptations ¤  Range from simple to complex technology

¤  Strategies that increase student independence

¤  Student need areas ¤  Alternative/augmentative communication

¤  Computer and mobile device access ¤  Struggling with reading ¤  Struggling with writing

¤  Alternative/augmentative communication strategies and devices enable students to

¤  Interact with others

¤  Express wants and needs

¤  Participate in home, school and community activities

Assistive Technology���For Communication

Tools & Strategies���For AAC ¤  Communication

boards & books

¤  Single & multiple message switches

¤  Communication apps

¤  Speech generating devices

Assistive Technology ���To Access Computers & Mobile Devices ¤  Adaptations that enable students, with

difficulties in the following areas, to successfully use a computer or mobile device ¤  Motor ¤  Vision ¤  Learning ¤  Behavior

Tools & Strategies���To Access Technology ¤  Alternative input

devices & strategies

¤  Software and apps for struggling learners

Assistive Technology���For Struggling Readers ¤  Technology-based resources and supports

that enable students to

¤  Access the Iowa Core curriculum

¤  Improve literacy

¤  Build independence in comprehending printed materials

Tools & Strategies���For Struggling Readers ¤  Digital text

¤  Text-To-Speech

¤  Embedded supports

¤  Technology-based resources and supports that enable students to

¤  Organize written ideas

¤  Increase written productivity

¤  Build independence in completing written schoolwork

¤  Participate in social media

Assistive Technology���For Struggling Writers

Tools & Strategies ���For Struggling Writers ¤  Alternatives to

handwriting

¤  Graphic organizer

¤  Word prediction

¤  Speech-To-Text

¤  Access to social media

Assistive Technology���Trends ¤  Born accessible

¤  Get more content, in more ways, to more people

¤  Accessible Instructional Materials (AIM) ¤  Materials that are designed or converted

in a way that makes them usable across the widest range of student variability

¤  Shift to mobile devices and Web-based activities ¤  Available, interactive and collaborative

¤  Research into the efficacy of technology to increase learning

¤  Improves functional capabilities

¤  Increases participation

¤  Increases independence

¤  Supports academic progress

Assistive Technology���Summary